Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals Extend ICU Capacity for COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Antony M. Grigonis PhD, Kusum S. Mathews MD, MPH, MSCR, Wande O. Benka-Coker PhD, MPH, Amanda M. Dawson PhD, Samuel I. Hammerman MD, MMM, CPE, FCCP

As ICUs filled during the early COVID-19 surge, a lesser-known hospital type stepped in: long-term acute care (LTACH) or critical illness recovery hospitals (CIRH). This paper outlines how a network of 94 LTACHs rapidly transformed to treat nearly 1,000 COVID-19 patients—providing critical care and recovery support when the system was stretched thin. The lessons learned offer a blueprint for expanding capacity and coordinating care in future health emergencies.

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